Green says Rangers players motivated by money

Updated: Monday, 02 Jul 2012 18:38

Rangers are still waiting to see what division they will compete in next season

Charles Green has told Steven Whittaker he had more chance of playing European football at Ibrox than Norwich as he vowed to pursue legal claims against the Rangers players who refused to join his new company.

Carrow Road-bound Whittaker and Kyle Lafferty, who joined Swiss side Sion, became the first of 10 players who objected to their transfer to Green's club to secure transfers.

PFA Scotland and their lawyers believe they are free agents under employment law but Green vowed to fight for transfer money and revealed he had written to every league club in the UK warning them to stay away from the players.

Rangers failed to meet the financial criteria to take their place in the Champions League before they were consigned to liquidation and Green's reformed Ibrox club will not be able to play in Europe for three years under UEFA rules.

The club face the prospect of Third Division football next season but Green accused the players of being motivated purely by money.

Green told Sky Sports News: "Our lawyers will pursue these claims. We have written to every Premier League and Football League club in the UK telling them clearly that we see this as a breach of contract.

"We don't accept the advice the players have been given.

"If their career is to play in Europe that's never going to happen at the clubs they are signing for."

He added: "If they are really looking at playing in Europe, they would stay at Rangers and play because the reality is that, before Norwich play in Europe, Rangers will be back in Europe.

"I don't accept that this is a career move - it's for financial gain, no other reason."